Trying to be perfect yourself can make you crazy. Trying to get the people around you to be perfect will make them crazy. And, it's not worth it, either. Consider these ideas to practice "selective perfectionism."
First, consider how much time it "costs" to be perfect. Imagine that getting a task to 90% (of perfect) takes one unit of time (and that unit might be an hour, 6 hours, or 3 days). If you are going to take that task to "perfect," or 100%, then it will take you another whole "unit" of time. Do the math. It takes twice as long to do something perfectly as it does to do it to a 90% standard.
There are times you (and those around you) need to work toward perfection..and other times, you don't. Tasks that probably need to be as close to perfect as humanly possible include:
Surgery. You don't want your doctor to do a 'pretty decent job' of getting that organ repaired. You are hoping for the best (100%) that your surgeon can possibly do.
A budget you are submitting for a federal grant. Granting agencies want to see budgets that add up perfectly, not 'pretty close.'
The scoring of SAT, ACT, GRE, MCAT, and other high stakes tests and exams. Too much is riding on these tests for students and their families not to expect that they will be scored at the 100% accuracy level.
Preparing for a major speech, address, or interview. There are situations in any of these categories that don't need to go all the way to 100%, but then there are the ones that deserve every bit of attention and practice you can possibly do. I'm sure you have a few others, but here are some that do NOT need to be taken to perfect (and where 90% will probably work fine):
Most memos. Just get the information in there, check for spelling, content, etc. and send that memo on its way. People need the the correct information in a format where it's accessible. They shouldn't be oohing and aahing over the incredibly decorative memo that you sent.
Cleaning your house (no matter who is coming over). If the person coming over cares more about how your house looks than seeing you, then don't invite them next time.
Creating a handout for a class you are teaching. Students need accurate, useful information that supports their learning. You can do that without spending twice as long to find the cutest clip art and the snazziest fonts and adjusting the margins 10 or more times.
Putting on make-up and fixing your hair. Look professional. You can do that at the 90% level.
Organizing almost anything. The idea is to have items where you need them when you need them and to be able to find them, but having books, files, spices referenced and cross-referenced....that's over the top.
Your holiday letter (or other greeting cards, etc.) Communicate and send or mail. Perfectionists make it harder than it is (because it takes twice as long).
If you are a perfectionist (and you might know this to be true--or just ask those around you), then take this article's ideas to heart, please.
I always tell people in my workshops that if you try to take everything to 100%, then you won't have the time really to take the most important things to "perfect."
Practice selective perfectionism, please.
Educators have the most influential positions in our society - and need every bit of support that can be mustered. Two resources that will help increase educators' sense of peaceful, predictable productivity are Meggin's weekly emails:
**Top Ten Productivity Tips http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com
**Keys to Keeping Chaos at Bay http://www.KeepingChaosatBay.com
(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm)
Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, and consulting.
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